Network engineer
Digital
Level 4 -
The broad purpose of the occupation is to install networks, maintain them, and to offer technical support to users, where necessary.
Reference: OCC0127
Status:
SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 2137/00 IT network professionals
- 3131/02 Network and systems administrators
Technical Education Products
Summary
This occupation is found in large, medium and small businesses, across all sectors, and within public, private, and voluntary bodies. Network engineers are a key occupation in most organisations, which are increasingly dependent on their physical and virtual networks. Digital technologies are increasingly being applied across business functions, to maximise productivity. Organisations of all types are increasingly applying digital technologies across all their business functions to maximise productivity.
The demand for people who can manage, build, maintain on-site, cloud and hybrid networks are increasing. This is due to technological developments and emerging new technologies. The broad purpose of the occupation is to install networks, maintain them, and to offer technical support to users, where necessary.
Small organisations may require the network engineer to work alone or as part of a team to securely monitor performance, maintain functionality and to troubleshoot virtual, local area network or respective components which may include Wi-Fi configuration.
Within a medium sized organisation, the network engineer will typically be part of a team but may work individually on network tasks to securely monitor, troubleshoot and maintain a local or wide area network infrastructure or components (remotely or on site). This may include Wi-Fi configuration.
Within a large organisation, the network engineer will typically be part of a team and may be involved physically or remotely in the use of up-to-date technologies and techniques, whilst securely maintaining, troubleshooting, monitoring, and changing, complex networks, this may include Wi-Fi configuration.
A network engineer provides networks and systems to deliver the objectives of their organisation. They will make sure that systems are working at optimum capacity and problem solve where needed. To be able to do this effectively a network engineer must interpret technical information and understand organisational requirements and expectations. They support delivery of legislatively compliant solutions to challenges in network infrastructure.
Network engineers may deal with both hardware and software issues. They are a key part of resolving issues when networks fail, helping to troubleshoot and resolve identified problems and performance issues with the network, to ensure service is resumed and downtime minimised. Network engineers help customers, both technical and non-technical to install networks, maintain them, and offer technical support to users where necessary.
Network engineers can be both customers facing or internal. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation may interact with a wide variety of stakeholders, face to face or remotely, by using a range of technologies. They may be working independently or collaboratively as part of a team. They will be aware of their organisational escalation structure and understand their role in their team.
Typical job titles include:
Keywords:
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
Duties
Duty D1
Install, configure, and test physical or virtual network components or devices securely to well-defined specifications.
Duty D2
Monitor and analyse network performance data.
Duty D3
Optimise, upgrade and maintain the performance of physical or virtual network systems, services or components in line with well-defined specification.
Duty D4
Investigate and problem solve to address technical performance issues in networks to return the network to successful operation and escalate as necessary.
Duty D5
Interpret written requirements and technical specifications in relation to delivery of network systems or services.
Duty D6
Use operational data to deliver and manage weekly work schedule in an efficient and cost-effective way whilst maintaining a high-quality service under pressure.
Duty D7
Consider the impact and risks when implementing network changes and maintain accurate logical records in line within organisational policy.
Duty D8
Communicate technical network requirements effectively and professionally with a range of stakeholders.
Duty D9
Take responsibility for continuous self-learning to ensure that network engineering activities are carried out effectively.
Duty D10
Ensure all network engineering activity complies with organisational policies, technical standards, Health and Safety legislation, data security requirements, professional ethics, privacy and confidentiality.
Occupational Progression
This occupational progression map shows technical occupations that have transferable knowledge and skills.
In this map, the focused occupation is highlighted in yellow. The arrows indicate where transferable knowledge and skills exist between two occupations. This map shows some of the strongest progression links between the focused occupation and other occupations.
It is anticipated that individuals would be required to undertake further learning or training to progress to and from occupations. To find out more about an occupation featured in the progression map, including the learning options available, click the occupation.
Progression decisions have been reached by comparing the knowledge and skills statements between occupational standards, combined with individualised learner movement data.
Technical Occupations
Levels 2-3
Higher Technical Occupations
Levels 4-5
Professional Occupations
Levels 6-7
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